Carolina Lupine and Other Spring Flowers

Carolina Lupine, aka Thermopsis villosa, a native plant, is a fairly new addition to Tiger Gardens. I purchased this particular plant at Cheekwood's Wildflower sale last year and can you say wow? In only one year Carolina lupine has grown to nearly four feet tall and stands up straight and proud as it shows off its lupine like yellow blooms.

I read where this plant is drought tolerant and since the new buzz word in my gardens is drought tolerant I thought I'd buy a thermopsis. I simply cannot baby plants and water them on a regular basis so drought tolerant is a good thing here. In the one year this plant has been in the garden it has not needed additional water. It withstood last summer's extreme heat and drought and came back wonderfully this year.

I have my lupine planted on the south side of the Rear Center Garden where it gets a bit of sun but not a great deal. It is sited under an oak tree to within four feet of the trunk of said oak tree. The conditions are inhospitable but so far the Carolina lupine has not been fazed by it all. I look forward to more good things to come from this plant. While at GroWild on Saturday I convinced my friend Naomi to buy herself a pot of the lupine. She was skeptical until she saw this one blooming its heart out in the garden.

Peonies are in full bloom and now the St. Josephs hardy amaryllis has joined the show. The white peony is 'Immaculee' and I tell you this peony above all others makes me think of frothy white cupcakes. Don't you think so too?

Here is an even better picture of the 'cupcakes'. The shape and size of the blooms as well as the texture of the petals just reminds me of swirls. I've been picking a lot of these to enjoy inside of the house as I work on designs. I think somehow even if the flowers do not inspire me when designing gardens they sure help me feel as though I am in the garden because I miss the garden!

Dutch irises were a late additions planted this January. I did not expect these to bloom but they surprised me. They are next to the new concrete patio by the new pond.

The front foundation gardens overflow with peonies, catmint, and lamb's ear-at least that is what it looks like here. This is the spring view. It will completely change in another month.

Bellflowers are blooming. I love these things because they bloom forever. Naomi gave me this start last year and they have spread quite a bit.

One bonus of living under trees is when the pools of sunlight come into the garden and highlight a plant. The above picture and the one below are examples of the pools of light. These irises are late irises and are a healthy bunch. I love their sunny color. The little bowling ball is peeking out too.

This last view is of 'Immaculee' in the new Non Pool Garden near the greenhouse. Everything around these peonies was in shade but this pool of light somehow hit these peonies just right....


in the garden....

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden